Lid-raising device.



T. E. SPRING.

LID RAISING DEVICE.

APPLICKTION FILED FEB. 13. 1915.

1,204,325. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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THOMAS EDWARD SPRING, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LID-RAISING DEVICE.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. "Z, 1916.

Application filed February 13, 1915. Serial No. 8,005.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THoMAs E. SPRING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Lid-Raising Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for removing the lids from boxes or cans, and moreparticularly the lids of blacking boxes or other containers of this class, wherein the ordinary top or lid is frictionally held into engagement with the body of the box by reason of its closely fitting relation thereto, and which, for this reason, is removed with difficulty.

The object of this invention is to provide a box of this character, having a body member of the usual construction and supplied with simple means, which, upon manipulation thereof, co-acts with the lower edge of the rim of the ordinary lid and effects the rear y loosening of the same, whereupon it may be easily removed from the box to disclose its contents.

Another object is to apply such opening means to a box of this character without any material alteration being required either to the body of the box or the lid, to occupy a minimum amount of space and at the same time to provide a structure so simple and inexpensive as to allow of its being manufactured with the box, to remain thereon and to be discarded with the same when the contents have been consumed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, size, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the drawing, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts in each of the several figures: Figure 1 illustrates a side View of a box, with lid applied and showing the opening device in position to remove the said lid. Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly in section, showing the lid being pried open by the device. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the box as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. i is a plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the opening device removed from the body of the box. Fig. 6 is a modification showing another method of pivoting the disk.

The device of the present invention, as illustrated in'the drawing is applied to the outside of the body member 1 of an ordinary box, such as is used for holding blacking, salves, pastes or the like, and provides opening means, so positioned thereon as to come into contact with the lower edge of the lid 2 when the said means are manipulated. The body member 1 may be of any desired form, and consists of the usual bottom having the upturned sides. The customary bead 3 is provided adjacent the top edge of the sides to abut against the outturned or flared lower edge 4 of the sides of the lid or top, which is also formed in the usual manner and necessitates no alterations whatsoever to adapt it for use on a box having the improved device applied thereto. The bead 3 is omitted at 5, and centrally of this smooth portion the side of the box is perforated, as indicated at 6, and the parts 5 and 6 mark the only departures required from the ordinary structure of the body member.

The device consists of a relatively small circular disk 7 having a knurled periphery to facilitate the turning of the disk by the fingers of the operator. The disk 7 is provided on the inner face thereof with an integral radial web or lug 9 extending from the center of the disk to a point close to the periphery, and having slightly tapered sides 10 and a rounded outer end or nose 11 for a purpose to be described. Extending outwardly from the said web or lug at a right angle to the adjacent face of the disk, and in line with the center thereof is a pin or pivot 11, preferably though not necessarily formed integral with the web and disk. Said pivot is adapted to be passed through the perforation 6 and the end of the pivot upset or riveted, as indicated at 12, on the inside of the box, for the purpose of retaining the device in its position on the outside of the body member and in close proximity to the flared lower edge of the lid. A separate pivot pin may be used to secure the disk and web to the box.

It will be seen, by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that the smooth portion 5 between the ends of the bead 3 readily permits the web or lug 9 to be rotated through the medium of the knurled disk 7 in either direction, and

allows the nose 11 of the said lug to ride around in a circular path (as indicated in Fig. 2), and strike the flared edge 4 and thereby raise the lid from the sides of the 1 box by causing the edge 4 to fulcrum on the bead 3 at a point diametrically opposite the opening device. Upon the completion of the rotative movement of the web or lug 9, the

lid 2 may be readily removed from the body member.

While the device is shown and described as being of one integral structure, the parts may be formed in any other manner and may furthermore be applied to any kind of 7 box or can susceptible of being opened by smaller end, Which is arranged within the periphery of the disk, comes in contact with the lid'of the box.

What is claimed is The combination with a box and a cover fitting over the open end of the box, of a disk pivoted against the outer side of the box and having a roughened peripheral surface for engagement by the fingers to turn the disk in either direction, said disk having an integral radial rib projecting from its inner face and extending from the central portion to substantially the circumference of the disk, said rib being relatively narrow to provide a single contacting nose at one side of the disk and being adapted to lie against the outer side of the box beneath the edge of said cover and to space the disk therefrom, said nose being adapted to engage the edge of the cover upon rotation of the disk in elther direction to raise the cover -'I from the box.

In testimony,.that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS EDWARD SPRING.

\Vitnesses:

ROBERT E. ANDERSON, JOHN B. MCBRIDE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

